During submissions in the 19th Amendment Bill determination hearing today (April 1), the Supreme Court judgement in the case of Rajapaksa vs. Kularatne was shown to the Supreme Court by Constitutional lawyer and TNA Member of Parliament M. A. Sumanthiran, where former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was found by court to have engaged in corrupt practice at a by-election for Mulkirigala Seat held on 12/09/1987. Further taking up of submissions on the Bill is due to take place in the Supreme Court for a second day, tomorrow (April 2) as well before Chief Justice K. Sripavan, Justice Chandra Ekanayake and Justice Priyasath Dep.
Basil
Several citizens contacted by Colombo Telegraph after the Basil Rajapaksa case was highlighted and asked their views on the matter, pointed out that it was unacceptable that despite the existence of this judgement publicly reported in Sri Lanka Law Report Volume 2 of 1988 recognizing corruption committed by Basil Rajapaksa, President Rajapaksa appointed this very same brother to head the entire economy. Many who were contacted, said they earlier supported Rajapaksa at the last Presidential election without knowing the unprecedented corruption level that has now been exposed after the media gained more freedom, with the fall of the Rajapaksa regime. They said that this highlights the need to ensure that whoever the president should not be able to take abusive or corrupt decisions without checks and balances, as they now realize Rajapaksa did.
“The 19th Amendment Bill contains many provisions aimed to limit the presidential powers to prevent dictatorship and nepotism, bring proper accountability and checks on corruption and ensure that the judiciary and civil service doesn’t continue to be politicized. Main political parties (UNP and SLFP) decided to put aside differences and come together to form a national government, to sort out the problems caused by the Rajapaksa regime.” a constitutional lawyer told Colombo Telegraph.
“This includes restoring (through 19th Amendment), the checks and balances like under the 17th Amendment that was controversially repealed by the Rajapaksa regime by 18th Amendment to consolidate a monopoly of power in the hands of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.” the lawyer pointed out.
Basil Rajapaksa who fled the country soon after the Rajapaksa regime was ousted through the January 8 election, is now due to be questioned by police on serious allegations of massive corruption after common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena was elected president and Ranil Wickremesinghe was made prime minister.
For the judgement in Rajapaksa vs. Kularatne, click here
Jagath Fernando / April 1, 2015
Lets catch him on recent issues.
No point digging into the past.
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srilal / April 2, 2015
don’t think so ,History is a vital part of the present and it’s repeating , in-order to get the full picture of this jig-so puzzle we need to scrutinize the whole saga .
can any one enlighten me about MR’s murder case in MUlkirigala , wasn’t he accused of killing a voter or two ? hadn’t he got acquitted from the murder charges due to lack of evidence ? it had been reported that MR was hiding behind a Morris Minor car and shooting the person , perhaps CT can provide more details on the subject !
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Seelawathie Jayasinghe / April 2, 2015
I dare say looking back the way he handled the war and post war issues, he could easily be a murderer the type of high killers now spending in prions today.
See, if you make mistakes, you should also be able to discuss about what circumstances cause dthem to be have gone wrong … then only educated masses would see it right, but EXpresident has not yet uttered a single word against a large number of issues (pitty to huge deals) about which charges and accusations are publicly being made today. Be it with Srilanken airlines or others it is the same. Alone the samll issure among them not holding records on VEHICLES registered under his Secretariat is not to be found. This is the BITTE reality of his administration. If he cant keep his under his control, how could he control the entire country is the question being raised by the many.
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punchinilame / April 2, 2015
and also whether Mahinda was accused of [Edited out] and the files
went missing at the ASPs Office, during the time of Ranil as PM? Is this a true story as was revealed in a write up after a visit to Hambantota by an ex-srilankan?
At least whether such a charge existed? MR is biography does not mention this,
for obvious reasons.
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Ajith / April 2, 2015
We cannot ignore the past. Rajapakse family’s past and present highlights their true charcters. Rajapakse was behind a terrorist organization in 1989 and was against Srilanka armed forces. He went illegally to UN against the Nation. Gotapaya was responsible for large number of massacres and disappearances in the past and present. He is the one who sent Karuna with illegal passport. Basil is a well known corrupt and large number of LTTE members left Srilanka after paying millions to him and Douglas. These criminals should not be allowed to remain in politics and punished under law.
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Hadi Sheriff / April 2, 2015
@Jagath
Really are you afraid UNP sins will come to light too.
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Yasin / April 4, 2015
all political corruptions should be exposed as a deterrent to all politicians past present and the future.After these individuals are elected to serve the community and the country by the people and they have every right to know when they veer in the wrong direction.
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paul / April 2, 2015
This IS the most recent case they have found. The other case dates back to 1957 where he has been caught pillion riding on a bicycle and escaping the due legal process by telling the Police Officer his relationship to DRR senior… :-)
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dcn / April 1, 2015
Track record of Basil shows his character. This should have been very well be known to MR when he choose him as almost his No.2 or even higher. Therefore he cannot plead ignorance of all the activities of his brother. In fact, Basil was quoted as Mr.10% in some magazines……
Bottom line is that the country has lost enormous amount of money arising from these mischief makers whilst the majority of the citizens of this country are suffering with very limited income.
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Wretched Bathideen / April 2, 2015
“Track record of Basil shows his character”
But his true character was hidden by his satakaya. He and his satakaya were inseparable like twins joined at the hips until Ali Baba and his 40 thieves were kicked out.
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jay gunasekara / April 2, 2015
MR had murdered a person and was in the remand prison at Welikada.The only witness to this was murdered and as a result he was released.This was disclosed to me by a prison official.The pattern of thuggish,murderous and stealing behavior has been there from the early days of their politics.
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priyangika / April 2, 2015
It would be good to know who was the victim. How, where and when was that
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Snowden Edward Asange / April 4, 2015
Does MR know ALL those civilians who were killed in the North? NO ! does that make him innocent? more like “in no sense”….
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Su siri / April 2, 2015
As I understand, the statute of limitation in Srilanka , for crimes other than murder is 20 years. So unfortunately the 15 percenter may not be tried and brought to justice on that issue. However, for the criminal acts of fraud , bribery and get rich quick schemes by looting the country for the past 10 years , he must be brought to justice. If the SL justice system lets these modern day carpetbaggers go unpunished, It would be a mockery of the avearge citizens who voted for a change.
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Wera / April 2, 2015
Something that I find intriguing about Basil is why it was reported that he is now residing in Vietnam. If this is true is he not a green card holder in the USA? If he is then is it that he is somehow afraid of living in the USA? Whatever the reason is I suspect it has to do with the giant level of corruption he indulged in. This is the most uneducated of the Rajapakshe siblings. He is rumored to not have passed his O’levels.
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Snowden Edward Asange / April 4, 2015
He is NOT just a green card holder but a CITIZEN of USA, why he is scared to live in USA is, that he could be extradited to SL if the Govt asks the US govt even by-passing the Interpol coz of the extradition treaty that’s signed by two countries…
WHY he is supposed to be in Vietnam is coz Vietnam is a country that has NO extradition treaty with the USA…so he cannot be extradited to USA and then to SL..
BUT SL can get the help of Interpol to get his ass down to SL from Vietnam…
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Aia / April 2, 2015
Mr Weerawansa seems hell bent on making him as a scape goat for all the wrongs of the MR regime, let see what he has to say about Weera when he is here. He doesn’t seem to think forgery is a crime at all.
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Hadi Sheriff / April 2, 2015
My view UNP & UPFA scratching each others backs.
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gamini / April 2, 2015
The 19th Amendment Bill contains many provisions aimed to limit the presidential powers to prevent dictatorship and nepotism, bring proper accountability and checks on corruption and ensure that the judiciary and civil service doesn’t continue to be politicized. Main political parties (UNP and SLFP) decided to put aside differences and come together to form a national government, to sort out the problems caused by the Rajapaksa regime.” a constitutional lawyer told Colombo Telegraph.
If this scenario unfolds and become the Law of the Country in the future, then the Corrupt Uneducated will have no place in Politics, especially the Rajapaksas. Only the Honest Politicians will have a place. Now who is fighting against such a Bill?
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Mohamed Azmi / April 2, 2015
Hadi Sheriff, you said it right. It is the UNP and UPFA scratching each other’s back and fooling the masses. “Good Governance” left the shores of this country soon after 1948.
This country needs a more pragmatic leaders who do not have a BLOATED ego. Not leaders who can shoot fishermen when they enter Sri Lankan waters willfully or accidentally.
Leaders who induct every joker as a Minister at will is no different from the old regime, isn’t it?
Sri Lanka is a Great country with lousy leaders, unfortunately.
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gigurawa / April 2, 2015
CT is again at its best in its hideous campaign to discredit the former government. I cannot recall CT ever quietening the probity of ex-president Chandrika Bandaranayake who was found guilty of corruption by supreme court during her tenure as president not so long ago. May be because she has now become a bosom pal of Ranil.
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srilal / April 2, 2015
Ggurawa ,
Don’t show your ignorance publicly , mate ! CBK had left office in 2005 and CT started way after her tenure , so if you want to attack CT , try some thing more credible .
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Javi. / April 2, 2015
CBK’s corrupt women are cool millionaires in the UK well known to Old Labour Councillors for taking away their seats ` I know president` at party selection. They were also assigned directorship of British defense charities. some got kicked by local grass root party supporters because of corruption- they are looked down like Nigerian scammers- but lankan women have no shame/
India never even thought of stooping that low- remember Hinduja case- pay taxes or be dammed to the UK.
Rajapass was after her because the funding from her women in the UK was disastrous to him not the tiger menace of refugees.
If the mayor could have let him for Queens jubilee then why not Oxford???
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Giruwapattuwe Koparahevage Julam Amarainghe / April 2, 2015
Giruwapattuwe gigurawa, if you cannot recall it is your problem. Don’t comment if you are suffering from dementia. We CT readers know about CBK’s pedigree. read; https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/common-opposition-wants-cbk-to-reduce-her-role-in-maithri-movement/
And
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/chandrika-the-king-maker/
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Stewart / April 6, 2015
I can think of another ‘Basil’ who is guilty of corrupt and immoral practices……
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Pygmalion / April 6, 2015
Basil was appointed by Gamini Dissanayake-Minister of Mahaweli then,as one of his many Co-ordinating Secretaries. That was in the early 80s!
Interestingly,Gaminis son Navin at an election meeting announced that Rs;10,000 would have been a fortune to Basil when he was working for Gamini Dissanayake!
When he fled the country on 11th Jan 2015 what would have been his Fortune?
Basil was the crook; Mahinda was the criminal and Gota was the Psychopath!
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